Did you know there is a World Memory Championship? And that it’s governed by the World Memory Sport Council? And as of January 2014, there are 149 people in the world who can officially call themselves a “Grand Master of Memory.” For those of us who struggle every day to recall a simple four-digit debit card pin number, this is a level of memory we’ll likely never achieve.
Beyond pin numbers and passwords, what other memory tasks are you presented with each day? One common challenge most people encounter is remembering names. Think about it, how often have you been introduced to a new co-worker or client only to forget their name minutes later. It’s a common occurrence and one that can set you up for an awkward or embarrassing interaction the next time you pass the forgotten person in the hall, during meetings, or at social functions.
Fortunately, there are a few tricks to help build your memory skills.
Repeat the name
Repetition is one of the best ways to commit information to memory. The next time you’re introduced to someone, make it a point to repeat their name a few times during the conversation, i.e. instead of simply saying “Nice to meet you,” say “Nice to meet you, Jane.” If the person has a particularly unique name, ask them how they spell it. The idea is to use the name enough times that it becomes engrained in your memory. Just remember to pace yourself. Using their name in every sentence is probably overkill and could sound strange.
Put it in context
Sometimes remembering where you met someone or under what circumstances can put a familiar face in context and help you recall their name. Sometimes, just seeing someone won’t help you remember their name, but when you place them in a certain context, other clues about what was happening around you when you met them may jog your memory.
Employ mnemonic devices
Simply put, a mnemonic device is any method or trick that helps you recall information. From word association and rhyme to musical melodies, there are a wide variety of common mnemonic techniques you can employ to help set a new name to memory. For example, you can remember “Nelly from the deli,” or “Mark from the park.” Obviously, they won’t always work out that perfectly, but you can switch between mnemonic devices depending on which best fits the situation.
Make a conscious decision to remember
Making a conscious decision to remember someone’s name before you even approach them is often enough to put yourself in the right frame of mind. As you approach, mentally prepare yourself to focus on putting a name and face together. If you know you have a hard time remembering names, continually prepping your brain to retain important information will eventually become automatic.
Sometimes, you just have to ask
What’s more embarrassing: admitting you forgot someone’s name or calling them the wrong name throughout a conversation? Sometimes, simply saying, “I’m sorry, can you remind me what your name is?” is necessary. It may feel awkward, but being upfront and honest actually shows more respect for “Dave” than calling him “Doug” over and over again.
What are some tricks you use to remember names? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Guy comes into the restaurant that I worked at for years and I never realized he was calling me D until one day he was repeatedly calling for me and when I looked up to see why no one was answering him he was trying to get my attention so now my nickname has become D.
I find I remember names better if I know the first and the last name of the person.